Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Ohio Supreme Court Adopts New Pro Hac Vice Rules, effective 1/1/2011

Effective 1/1/11 (not 1/1/10), the Ohio Supreme Court will significantly chang the rules for out-of-state lawyers who want to be admitted to practice for a limited purpose in an Ohio case. Under amendments to Rule XII of the Rules for the Governement of the Bar, all pro hac vice admissions will have to go through the Supreme Court's Office of Attorney Services starting in 2011. All applicants will also have to pay a $100 fee and sign an "acknowledgement of Ohio’s attorney disciplinary rules and a statement that the attorney has not appeared more than three times in a calendar year in a pro hac vice capacity." Click here for a link to the new Rules in Word format.

Comments Sought on Proposed Amendments to Federal Bankruptcy, Criminal and Evidence Rules

Public comments are being accepted until February 10, 2010 on proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankrutpcy and Criminal Procedure, as well as proposed style revisions to the Federal Rules of Evidence. Some of the proposed bankruptcy rule changes would clarify what information is needed for a proof of claim and allow limited extensions of time to object to a debtor's discharge. Most, if not all of the proposed criminal rule changes reflect the use of greater technology to allow video conferences or the receipt of information and issuance of documents through electronic means. The proposed style revisions to the evidence rules will purportedly make them easier to read without changing their meaning. Click here to review the list of proposed changes.

Law Firm Slogans Can Be Catchy or Profound

The Stem Legal Blog has collected some of the most creative and profound legal slogans from the United States, the U.K. and Canada.Two local firms that made the list employ the following taglines to entice clients: Baker & Hostetler-Counsel to Market Leaders; and Jones Day-One Firm Worldwide. A few that did not make the list might include: Ulmer & Berne-whose website scrolls through pictures featuring the words commitment, community, diversity, teamsork, and value; Squire Sanders & Dempsey-whose slogan is "Legal Counsel Worldwide"; Davis & Young-whose home page flashes Tradition, Integrity, Responsiveness; Porter Wright-whose website states "Realize what's possible"; and Elk & Elk-whose slogan is heard everywhere-"Serious Lawyers for Serious Injuries."

November is National Adoption Month

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is promoting November as National Adoption Month to encourage people to become adoptive parents and thank those who have already heard the call.  Click here to read the ODJFS flyer, which indicates that over 12,000 Ohio children are currently in foster care, including 3,000 who are waiting to be permanently placed with an adoptive family. The flyer also provides links to additional information from the state and federal governments.

Ohio Supreme Court Suspends Less Than 1% of Ohio Attorneys

Most of Ohio's attorneys got their biennial registrations in on time this year. The Ohio Supreme Court only had to suspend 233 attorneys state-wide, which is less than 1% of the total attorneys registered in Ohio, i.e., 57,311. Click here for a list of those who failed to file on time and have thus been suspended. They can get reinstated by paying a hefty reinstatement fee of $300.

Women Still Under-representated as Law Firm Partners

A brand new study on law.com indicates that women lawyers are still way behind their male counter-parts when it comes to making partner. Although women graduate from law schools as often as men, only 19.2% of partners across the country are women. At the rate women are going, experts claim there will not be an equal number of male and female partners until 2086. The numbers reflect some industry trends that might be changed with more flex-time options and parental leave policies. The article also suggests that the recession has disproportionately hit women lawyers who were working part-time, thus throwing another curve ball at their hope for partner status.

Almost 1,000 Pass the Ohio Bar Exam

In typical Halloween-time tradition, the July Ohio Bar Exam results are out. According to the Ohio Supreme Court, almost 1,000 candidates passed the July 2009 bar exam at the rate of 81.3% of all test takers. First-timers scored a little better at an 87.8% success rate. Click here to open the entire list of happy candidates who will be sworn in at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 9th.

Last Day for Attorneys to Register with Ohio Supreme Court

Today is the last day attorneys can register late with the Ohio Supreme Court. The Ohio Supreme Court has warned that it will suspend all attorneys who do not pay their $350 biennial registration plus a $50 late fee by today, November 2nd. Attorneys can register by mail or online by clicking the "biennial Attorney Registration" link on the right hand side of the Ohio Supreme Court's front page.

Jones Day Partner Rawson to Continue as Case Law School Dean

The Plain Dealer reports that Jones Day partner, Robert Rawson, will continue as the Dean of the Case Law School until mid-2011. High on his list of priorities for the remainder of his tenure are creating a strategic plan, raising money for more scholarships, and enhancing the school's career services division. Rawson received his JD from Harvard, a Masters from Oxford in England, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and his A.B. from Princeton, where he was Phi Beta Kappa.

ABA Promoting National Pro Bono Week

We are now almost mid-way through the first national Pro Bono Week, which is being sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. The ABA's initiative is dedicated to finding more lawyers to provide pro bono legal services, and local entities like the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland have really stepped up the the plate. Check out the list of activities and events they and others throughout Ohio are sponsoring.